A TOTAL OF 68 people have been deported by the Immigration Department between January and June.

Heading the list of deportees are Guyanese with 24; while 20 were from Jamaica; Colombia, seven; St Vincent, five; Syria, two; St Lucia, two; and one each from United States, Britain, French Guiana, Portugal, Brazil, Nigeria, Senegal and Ecuador.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Reverend Joseph Atherley, said that during January to June, the people were deported for various offences – 31 for drug-related matters, 18 for immigration breaches, eight for prostitution and the others for miscellaneous offences.

And while praising the department for its "sterling" work, he said Government would not tolerate people who came and breached immigration regulations, nor nationals who encouraged those breaches.

"The immigration officers, especially the Enforcement Division, must be commended for the tremendous job they continue to do under very difficult circumstances.

"We will also deal accordingly with such unscrupulous people who bring others here to participate in prostitution," he added. (BGIS)